Before the Swiss Army Knife, Victorian women wore ornate multitools

Here ’s a machine to sum to your steampunk fiction : the chatelaine , a pop appurtenance from the 19th century . Part practicality , part fashion accessory , the chatelaine was the perfect way for woman on the go to pack all of their cock .

Collectors Weeklyhas a fascinating interview with Genevieve Cummins , who co - authored a al-Qur’an about this forgotten bit of square-toed earned run average mode . The term “ chatelaine ” first look in 1828 , and while the cartoon up top is sure enough an exaggeration ( it ’s from Punch clip , after all ) , the token was worn about the waist and held Ernst Boris Chain with all variety of items a fair sex might need at the quick : spectacles fount , scissors , paint , seal , tiny notebook , essence bottles . A nursemaid ’s chatelaine might hold a thermometer while a seamstress ’ might include a thimble and a mag tape measuring stick . charwoman might have different chatelaines for running errands and for doing oeuvre around the house . Cummins even mentions a chatelaine holding a tiny paintbox and another for play golf , unadulterated with scorecards and a pencil .

All the famous jewelers of the day , including Tiffany and Fabergé , manufactured chatelaine at one point or another , and some were more ornate than practical . ( Cummins says that she has see tremendous sword chatelaines with up to a dozen attachments , however . ) Eventually the chatelaine fell out of manner in favor of pocket watches and larger handbag . Cummins says that no museum has a collection that show off the range of chatelaine style that exist , but she has select up collecting them on her own . you’re able to see photos of several of the chatelaine she has found at Collectors Weekly .

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